To Those Struggling with Depression: You Don’t Deserve This

First and foremost, you are not “crazy.”

This isn’t something you made up in your head. This isn’t something you put upon yourself. This isn’t for show… I know you didn’t want this.

And you did not deserve this.

No matter who you are, no matter where you come from or what you have done in your life, no one deserves this. No one ever will deserve this.

So many people are affected by it, yet so many people feel alone. Not so much because they don’t know other people struggle with the same diagnosis, but because every single person’s depression is different from everyone else’s depression, just like everyone is unique and different.

So, people still feel like they are misunderstood, helpless or hopeless.

You are worth so much more than you truly realize.

Whether you believe it or not, you impact so many people — people who you may, or may not, know you affect in any way. You may, or may not, agree that you have friends or loved ones, but there are people in this world who do, and will, care for you throughout your life.

When you’re in the smoke, it is hard to see anything at all. It tries to take the breath from your lungs, and get you to collapse. Yet you fight through it.

So, I don’t care what anyone else says — you have got to know that you are so, so, strong.

You are capable of so much more than you can imagine right now.

I beg of you only one thing. It is not to “just be happy.” It is not to wear a mask. It is not to act like someone you are not.

It is this: to not give in.

I know it is hard. Harder than words can express.

You are strong. So, so, so, so, strong.

You being able to sit, lie or stand there and read this right now… the thought is truly amazing. You have been through so much. So many obstacles, so many tortures, so many heartaches, and yet… here you are.

You are here.

You may never be “fixed.” You may never be “perfect.” You may never be able to erase what has been inked onto your paper, but you are something so much better than “perfect.”

You are a life — a life filled with moments. And you… you will live in every moment, and get something out of it.

Because you know the impact of a moment.

You will get so much more out of the “small” moments… and much more than is imaginable during the “big” moments.

That is truly… amazing.

I am so proud of you.

Signed with passion,

One of you.

If you or someone you know needs help, visit our suicide prevention resources page.

If you need support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or reach the Crisis Text Line by texting “START” to 741-741.

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Getty Images photo via doble-d